Pours a thick, charcoal black with a dark caramel colored head. Some visible lazing around the glass and a thin film that sticks to the edges after each sip. Smells of roasted malt, slight vanilla and bourbon. A hint of diacetyl is detected but just ever so slightly.

Tastes of rich dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and whiskey. The bourbon flavor lingers on the tongue for a few minutes after swallowing. The 9.5 % ABV is definitely detectable due to the wavy bourbon presence. Seems as if the flavors are not very well balanced and judging by the fact that this is the first release, I'm sure it will be tweaked down the road.

Mouthfeel is mediocre. Overall pretty average bourbon barrel aged stout. I would try it again next year to see if there were improvements but at this point the quality just isn't quite there yet. (888 characters)

Got this in a trade and would therefore like to give a shout-out to youradhere. Here goes:

A: Pours a beautiful one inch head that leaves plenty of lacing. This beer is pitch-blank, too - and I mean PITCH black. Overall it's very lovely.

S: Very good. Chocolate and coffee notes backed up by oaken vanilla. While the oak isn't as robust as in other bourbon-barrel-aged beers, it still serves as a nice complement to the roasted malt, somewhat alleviating the latter's bitterness.

T: A very solid beer. Chocolate, roasted malt gives way to a large bourbon backbone. They did a very good job with the beer. The roasted, burnt malt lingers on the tongue long after consumption.

Far too much oak, burying the stout flavor. Some malty dark bourbon notes are faint, riding very far at the back of the bus, just barely perceptible on the finish. Regular Scarface is far better, I hope for Speakeasy that this was an anomaly, because I've been a fan of most of their beers I've tried thus far. (346 characters)

Overall I think this worked very well. I think it’s ready to drink now before it loses the whiskey element, which stands out here. The price point was good..me thinks $11.99 for a bomber…and I will be seeking this out again…..if I can find it. (859 characters)

Appearance - Pours deep, dark and inky, with a dark tan finger width head and fair dissipation. What's left behind is a broken layer of suds across the surface, and a fair ring around the edge. Lacing is thin and streaky, with fair stick.

Smell - Holy hot nose, Batman! This smells almost exclusively like ethanol, with buried notes of chocolate, oak and roasted malt to save this from being a complete olfactory disaster.

Taste - Thankfully not nearly as hot in the flavor as the nose would suggest. First notes to hit the tongue are strong milk chocolate and a touch of anise. Bourbon and the accompanying heat that comes with it appear shortly after. Mild notes of roast pop in near the finish then fade, leaving an oaky, bourbony and milk chocolate finish.

Mouthfeel - On the lighter side of full-bodied, with moderate carbonation. Goes down smoother than expected, though there's a bit of bite from the alcohol. Dry finish.

Overall - A solid, though unspectacular barrel-aged impy. One of those rare beers where the smell is atrocious, but the brew tastes good. For the price, I'd probably skip on trying this again, but as it was a birthday gift to begin with I can't complain too much. :) (1,199 characters)

Appearance: Pours pitch black with bubbles all over the body and with a vigorous pour the somewhat dark tan head rose to a finger's length.

Smell: Quite an aroma if you ask me, rich of bourbon light scotch complimented with vanilla-chocolate. It is addicting just inhaling this brew.

Taste: A sweet bitterness that is mixed with espresso and molasses. You feel a scotch medley in the end which is quite appetizing.

Mouth: medium at best, but to say it is smooth is being sarcastic or just not knowing what you are talking about. It is easy an acquired taste and the feel that is gentle for what this brew is.

Overall: Is this an improvement from the orginal Scarface Imperial, I would say yes. In my honest opinion rarely the "barrell aged" exceeds the original but Speakeasy out did themselves. This brew is a steal for the price and honestly I am happy I bought two bottles when I saw it. Grab a snifter or best available beer glass and enjoy, Salud! (989 characters)

O: I really enjoyed the "basic" Scarface, and this is a more elegant version of that drink. The bourbon barrel-aging may not appeal to all, but in my estimation, it works well with Imperial stouts more often than not. In this beer, a smooth and rugged beer is rounded off with lighter notes and flavors, but also a deeper, more luxurious character. (725 characters)

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and a green apple aroma. Taste is much the same with cocoa and green apple flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a decent barrel aged presence but I am not sure where the green apple aromas and flavors are coming from. (686 characters)

The flavor profile closely follows the nose, though more potent still with a pleasing medium-dry finish and a long roasty yet mellow finish. Alcohol is well integrated and there are a few brighter esters suggesting plum or other fruit for balance.

Velvety, thick, but not over-done mouth-feel with adequate carbonation.

A very respectable stout from Speakeasy - surprisingly so, perhaps the first of their beer to warrant some real enthusiasm. (764 characters)